Collapsible girder



Oct. 13, 1964 D. R. WILLIAMS 3,

COLLAPSIBLE GIRDER Filed June 9, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dale R. Williams INVENTOR.

Bi/Wan Oct. 13, 1964 D. R. WILLIAMS 3,

' COLLAPSIBLE GIRDER Filed June 9, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dale R. Williams 28 53 52 INVENTOR.

30 BY 72 1; WM

/4 PT I L Oct. 13, 1964 D. R. WILLIAMS COLLAPSIBLE GIRDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 9, 1961 Fig. 9

Dale R. Williams I N VEN TOR Ammeys BY aw and United States Patent 3,152,347 COLLAPSIBLE GIRDER Dale R. Williams, 14701 E. Colfax99, Aurora, Colo. Filed June 9, 1961, Ser. No. 116,048 Claims. (Cl. 1445) This invention relates to structural devices, and more particularly to extensible and retractible girder assemblies.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a girder structure which is so constructed that it may be folded or contracted to a compact package, or it may be extended when desired to any preselected length.

It is another object of the invention to provide a girder structure which has manually operative means thereon for dexpanding and contracting the girder whenever desire It is still another object of the invention to provide a girder structure which is contractible and expandible so that the girder may be contracted for storage or transportation, and may be extended to any desired length when installed for use.

It is another object of the invention to provide a girder structure which has at least one covering surface pivotally connected thereto. This covering surface is pivotally connected to the top of the girder or the bottom thereof, or both the top and the bottom so that when the girder is exended, the covering folds down into a coplanar position perpendicular to the plane of the girder so that it may serve as a flooring or ceiling for the girder structure.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a collapsible girder structure which may be made in either fiat or curved form when extended.

Briefly, the invention comprises a girder structure including a lazy tongs type mechanism which is adapted to be extended from its folded position. Connected between the cross members of the lazy tongs are telescoping struts which function as additonal braces. Cable and winch mechanism is provided and the cable is guided by pulleys along the various cross members and struts for collapsing or extending the girder as desired. Also, connected to one edge of the lazy tongs mechanism by pivot means are additional folding levers, some of which may have a transversely extending covering structure attached thereto. The covering structure may function as a ceiling, a floor, a roof, etc.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of the collapsible struts in the extended position and arranged in side-'by-side, parallel relationship;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a collapsible girder without any covering structure and in a completely folded position;

FIGURE 3 is a right end elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the girder shown in FIG- URE 2 in the fully extended position with an outer covering thereon;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of a girder shown in FIGURES 2 through 4 in a partially extended position;

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing a slightly modified form;

3,152,347 Eatentecl Oct. 13, 1964 FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but showing another slightly modified form; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing a plurality of girders of the type shown in FIGURE 8 assembled in side-by-side relationship.

As shown in FIGURES 2 through 6, the collapsible girder assembly 10 comprises a lazy tongs mechanism 12. The lazy tongs mechanism comprises a plurality of parallel cross members 14 and a plurality of parallel cross members 16. In the form shown in FIGURES 1 through 6, the cross members 14 and 16 are of rectangular hollow construction in cross-section and each member 14 crosses a member 16. The members 14 and 16 are pivotally connected together by pivot pins or rivets 18 which extend through aligned bores at their centers. The upper end of each member 14 is pivotally connected by a pin or rivet 20 to the upper end of an adjacent member 16. The lower end of each member 14 is pivotally connected to the lower end of an adjacent member 16 by a pin or rivet 22.

Extending between each pin 20 and 22 is a telescoping strut assembly 24. Each strut assembly comprises a cylinder 26 slidably receiving a rod 28. Each telescoping strut assembly 24 is pivotally connected at its upper and lower ends by means of apertures thereth-rough to the pins 20 and 22 respectively. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 6, each of the pins 20 and 22 also extend through a pair of cylindrical rollers 30 and 32 and a slightly larger washer 34 which separate the rollers. The pins 26 each also extend through a pair of rollers 30 and 32 in the same manner as shown in FIGURE 6, but the washers 34 are omitted and the pivoted ends of the beams 40 and struts 42 are substituted for the washers 34. As shown in FIGURE 5, the beams 40 and struts 42 are alternately spaced and the lower end of one beam 40 in the lower end of one strut 42 are connected pivotally to each pin 20 between the rollers 30 and 32. Also, the upper end of each strut 42 is pivotally connected by a pin 44 to the central portion of an adjacent beam 40. The beams 49 and the struts 42 are preferably formed of fiat material. Rigidly fixed to the upper end of each beam 40 by conventional means such as welding, is a cross beam 46 which is L-shaped in cross section and extends perpendicular to the beam 40. The cross beams 46 may extend an equal distance on each side of the beams 40, or they may extend only from one side of the beam 40. One end of each beam 44 is notched as shown at 48 so that when the girder is in the fully extended position as shown in FIGURE 4, the upper flanges of the cross beams 46 may be received in the notches 48. Also, when the girder is in the fully extended position, the ends of the beams 40 containing pins 20 snugly abut one side of the flanges 52 of the cross beams 46.

Rigidly secured to the lower end of each cylinder 26 is a joist 54 which is preferably of the same cross sectional shape and length as the cross beams 46.

The cylinder 26' at one end of the girder 10 has rigidly fixed thereto in spaced relation two parallel U-shaped brackets 56 and 58, each of which rotatably supports a cable reel or winding drum 60 or 62. The axle on each of the winding drums has a manually operatively winding crank 64 fixed thereto. The reel 69 has a girder collapsing cable 66 wound thereon, while the reel 62 has a girder extension cable 68 wound thereon.

The collapsing cable 66 extends from the reel 60 upwardly and over the roller 30 onto the pin 2t) at the upper end of the end rod 28' and extends horizontally over the top of the remaining rollers 30 to the other end of the girder where it is secured to the pin 20 at that end. The extending cable 68 extends upwardly from the reel 62 and over the end roller 32 on the pin 20 and then the cable extends diagonally downwardly behind the right cross member 16 as viewed in FIGURE 5, then the cable loops around a lower roller 32 and extends vertically outwardly again in front of a strut assembly 24. The extension cable 68 continues on to the left end of the girder by zig-zagging between the rollers 32 as explained above. The extreme left end of the cable 68 is secured to the left end of the girder, and preferably to one of the pins 22 or 20.

T o operate the girder from the collapsed or contracted position shown in FIGURE 2 to the expanded position shown in FIGURE 4, it is only necessary to retate the handle 64 for the reel 62 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 5 so as to wind the extension cable 68 upon the reel. As the cable 68 winds on the reel 62, it rolls over the upper and lower rollers 32 and thereby applies a compressive force between the upper and lower ends of each telescoping strut assembly 24. This causes the rod members 28 to be forced within the cylinder members 26 so as to laterally expand the lazy tong assembly comprising the cross members 14 and 16, as viewed in FIGURE 5. As the extension cable 68 is continued to be wound upon the reel 62, the girder continues to expand lengthwise until eventually the pins strike the upper ends of the cylinders 26 and the cross beams 46 recede into the notches 48 as viewed in FIGURE 4.

Each of the beam 46 with its attached cross beam 46 may have secured to the upper surface a rectangular covering sheet 70 as shown in FIGURE 4. These sheets extend from the notches 48 to the outer edge of the flanges 50 of the cross beams 46. The covering sheets may be secured to the beams by conventional means such as welding or screws, not shown. The covering sheets 70 may be secured to the beams and 46 at the factory and folded with the girder assembly, or they may be attached after the girder assembly is extended as illustrated in FIGURE 4. If the covering sheets are installed at the factory, and it is desired to fold the girders as compactly as illustrated in FIGURE 2, then it is apparent that the cross beams 46 and the beams 40 must be recessed on their upper surfaces to receive the thickness of the sheets, or else the thickness of these beams must be reduced by an amount equal to the thicknesses of the sheets. However, it is to be pointed out that even if the sheets 70 are fractory installed on the girder assembly illustrated in FIGURES 2 through 5, it is still possible to fold the complete device into a rather compact unit.

In the form illustrated in FIGURE 7, the structure and arrangement of parts is identical to that shown in FIGURE 4, except that additional structure has been added to the lower edge of the. girder assembly. In this form, lower beams 40 and lower struts 42 are con ne'cted together by pins 44' and are connected to the girder structure by the pins 22 in the same manner that the upper beams 49 and struts 42 are connected together and to the girder structure. Also, lower covering sheets 70' are connected to the joists 54' and lower beams 40 in the same manner in which the covering 70 is connected to the beams 46 and 46. The joists 54' are connected to the free swinging ends of the beams 40 rather than being connected to the lower end of each cylinder 26 as shown in FIGURE 5. The arrows in FIGURE 7 indicate the direction in which the covering sheets and beams swing when the girder is collapsed.

In the forms of the girder shown in FIGURES 1 through 7, the upper and lower edges of the girders are straight and parallel. However, in the form shown at 11 in FIGURE 8, the upper and lower surfaces are curved. The form shown in FIGURE 8 is constructed the same as that form shown in FIGURE 4. However, in the form shown in FIGURE 8, the cross members 14' and 16 are pivotally connected by a pin 18' which extends through the cross members at a point spaced below the centers C thereof. This causes the lower ends of the cylinders 26 to be closer together than the upper ends thereof thereby giving a curved configuration to the upper and lower edges of the girder when it is fully extended as shown in FIGURE 8. The form shown in FIGURE 4, the cross members 14 and 16 are connected exactly at their center C by the pins 18. The form shown in FIG-- URE 8 may also be covered by the covering sheet 70.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a plurality of expanded girders of the type shown in FIGURE 4 connected in side-by-- side relationship by means of the joists 54, the cross beams 46 and the covering sheet 70. The joints between: the covering sheets are not shown, since the exact loca-- tion of these joints is not critical and is merely a matter However, it is apparent that the joints could' be half way between each of the lazy tong assemblies or? In a similar man-- ner, FIGURE 9 illustrates a plurality of girders 11 shown: in FIGURE 8 connected in side-by-side relationship This forms a curved structure which is particularly adapted to be used in the roof construction of hangars andof choice.

it could be directly over each girder.

other large buildings.

From the above description, it is readily apparent that my novel girder assemblies may be constructed on a mass production basis, folded to a compact size, for shipping, and thereby easily transported over long distances to the sites where the girders will be used. After the girders have been transported to the building sites, they may be rapidly expanded by the extension cables 68 and reels 62 in a minimum of time and a minimum of effort. No special tools or training of the labor force is required in extending the girders. Since the girders may be shipped with the sheet covering 7 i) on one or both sides thereof, it is apparent that the girders may be joined in side-by-side relation as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5 for forming large building panels. These panels may be used for roof structures, floor structures, wall panels, bridge structures, etc.

If desired, the cylinders 26 may be locked to the rods 28 by means of set screws 27 which are threaded through the walls of the cylinders 26 and contact the outer surfaces of the rods '28.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the'iuvention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A collapsible and expansible lazy-tongs girder comprising a pair of crossed members, operating means mounted on the lazy tongs girder and connected thereto so as to selectively extend and contract the girder, brace means movably connected between the ends of said crossed members and arranged to contract and extend therewith, said brace means rigidly connecting andlock-- ing together said crossed members composing the lazy tongs when the girder isfully extended, said brace means including a beam pivotally connectedat one end to the.-

end of one of said crossed members, a strut pivotally connected to a mid-portion of the beam and to the cor-- responding end of the other of said crossed members.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said beam has a cross beam connected to its other end, said cross beam extending laterally from said girder when the girder is extended and adapted to connect it to other girders.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said beam is formed with a notch at said one end, said notch being in mating engagement with a cross-beam adapted to be connected to an adjacent beam when the girder is in fully extended position to provide a unitary and continuous structure.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein the brace means have covering sheets connected to their outer surfaces.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein a plurality 5 of said girders are arranged in side-by-side relationship in extended position and said cross bars and sheets are connected by conventional means such as Welds to form a hollow panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Schwarz Oct. 14, 1924 Allen Apr. 9, 1929 Heidenreich Mar. 21, 1944 Meredith Feb. 27, 1951 Boger Oct. 23, 1956 Ludowici May 15, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Apr. 4, 1949 Great Britain Mar. 23, 1955 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE AND EXPANSIBLE LAZY-TONGS GIRDER COMPRISING A PAIR OF CROSSED MEMBERS, OPERATING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE LAZY TONGS GIRDER AND CONNECTED THERETO SO AS TO SELECTIVELY EXTEND AND CONTRACT THE GIRDER, BRACE MEANS MOVABLY CONNECTED BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID CROSSED MEMBERS AND ARRANGED TO CONTRACT AND EXTEND THEREWITH, SAID BRACE MEANS RIGIDLY CONNECTING AND LOCKING TOGETHER SAID CROSSED MEMBERS COMPOSING THE LAZY TONGS WHEN THE GIRDER IS FULLY EXTENDED, SAID BRACE MEANS INCLUDING A BEAM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE END OF ONE OF SAID CROSSED MEMBERS, A STRUT PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO A MID-PORTION OF THE BEAM AND TO THE CORRESPONDING END OF THE OTHER OF SAID CROSSED MEMBERS. 